Brigade of Light SummonsFamily Name KirinFamily Type Taijutsu Village Brigade of Light

Home:Anywhere
For centuries members of the House of Kirin have chosen to live an ascetic and solitary lifestyle, spread out across the continent. This makes negotiating with the family difficult, as each member lives separate from the rest, and no one unified contract exists. Each kirin lives in small, isolated glades, untouched by man. In fact, the very act of a human entering a kirin’s home renders it spoiled, requiring the kirin seek out a new one. This makes meetings rather unpleasant for all involved parties.Description:
Each kirin takes on a slightly different form, but among them all are some unifying features. All kirin have four hooved feet with two toes, much like a deer. Kirin’s are all obligate herbivores which subsist entirely on grasses and leaves. Kirin range in size from that of a household dog all the way up to giraffe. On their heads are a pair of small forked antlers which are sharp, but usually do not extend more than a foot. The tail of a kirin usually consists of long hairs like a horse’s or ox’s. The skin is often covered in scales like a fish, which can be of any color or pattern. They possess fearsome looking large-mouthed heads reminiscent of those of a lion or dragon.

When speaking kirin’s are said to sound like a multitude of tiny bells or the whistle of the wind. They do not roar. When walking they seem to tiptoe everywhere, and it is said that kirin can walk through grass without disturbing a single blade. As creatures of nature they are fascinated by the novelties of civilization such as refined metals and gems.

The kirin are said to possess the supernatural ability to judge the character of those they meet. It is a bit more complicated than determining if a person is ‘good’ or ‘evil’, but in general kirin are extremely perceptive to the wiles of humans and can figure out the intent of others after just a few moments observing them. This is not a prophetic vision- it merely means a kirin can tell what the emotional state and motivations of an individual at the exact moments they interact with them.

History

How long have the kirin existed? Long enough for to be considered nothing more than a legend by most. Despite possessing an amazing breadth of skill and intelligence, kirin are ultimately animals just the same as any other. They are slow to breed, have long life spans of up to 140 years, and in the past have been poached and slaughtered for the alleged magical properties of their horns. Though they symbolized prosperity and good will, their frail nature and easily exploited mentality drove them to near extinction. As with many of the mythical beasts that once roamed the world humanity drove the kirin out and away with their strength and greed.

However the kirin chose this fate rather than oppose their slayers. To maintain their beliefs of pacifism and generosity they allowed themselves to be killed and their numbers depleted to only a handful. To give into anger would mean abandoning the very nature of a kirin itself; that purity of heart. A lot of good being pure of heart did them, though!

Today they hide away in solitude in the deepest parts of the natural world. They make their home in forests, in grassy plains, and even in the wooded mountaintops. In this isolation they have grown stronger individually, but no less resolute in their ideology. Kirins firmly believe in the goodness of all living things no matter how twisted, deformed, or rotten they may seem to be.

Forty years ago a man by the name of Oho no Annei happened by chance to save the life of a young kirin from hunters. When asked what he wished for in return, Guuyo refused to accept any payment. The act he performed because ‘it was right’, not out of any obligation of servitude. Again, several months later, a woman assisted a different kirin. Yet again there was no payment made, no oath sworn. It was merely the crossing of paths of one good creature with another. Another time a kirin saved a priest from drowning. And in yet another a kirin and a human both worked together to locate a lost child.

So this would continue, with humans running into kirin and kirin running into humans, for several more decades. Eventually, a chance meeting between now Headmaster Oho no Annei and some elder kirin settled the ad hoc relationship. A contract would be drafted such that humans and the kirin could work together to better the world. This wasn’t a mercenary agreement but rather a treaty made of good faith by both parties.

Since the signing of the contract twenty years ago, the Brigade of Light has served as the de facto arbiter of kirin-human relations. It is not strictly the case that kirin only work for the Brigade, but the relationship is one of convenience and it works.

It is said that every Brigade member at some point in their past has been visited by a kirin, but this remains pure conjecture. However it is true that any soul deemed unworthy by one is just as likely to be condemned by the other. The relationship between the kirins and the Brigade is one of mutual respect and trust, a two-way street of give and take rather than one of master and servant. Sometimes the kirin summon the Brigade, and sometimes the Brigade summons the kirin. That’s what friends are for, right?

Important Members

Satori the Ape

Obsessed with mankind and all its behaviors, Satori is the ‘weakest’ kirin in the Brigade of Light’s service by choice rather than biology. Satori possesses an ape-like face and monkey tail, and speaks in the rougher tones more familiar to human listeners. To learn more about humanity Satori has grown small and quiet, and stands no taller than a human child would. This existence has permitted Satori to infiltrate human settlements and learn of their cultures, which he puts to great use. Among the kirin Satori is considered a ‘mind-reader’, though in practice it is far less impressive. Satori’s impressive breadth and imitation of humans gives him a sixth-sense when it comes to judging the character of others, more so than a kirin’s usual ability. In this regard he is often employed as a arbiter of justice within the Brigade.

Satori’s oaths tend to be fairly inconsequential but healthy habits aimed to improve the life of the summoner. Examples of these would be ‘I will quit smoking’, ‘I will brush my teeth twice a day’, and ‘I will not ask for seconds’.

Genbu the Turtle

Unlike all other kirin, Genbu possesses a tortoises shell rather than scales. He cannot retreat into it for safety, though, and its purpose seems largely decorative. Genbu is sometimes called the cowardly kirin for his overly cautious nature and fear of hostility. He talks in whispers and paces slowly. He stands no taller than a dog and is prone to hiding in shadows. Black scales that absorb light cover his entire body. The frightened antics of Genbu are often a source of amusement to summoners, but don’t be fooled; Genbu is the oldest of all kirin, having lived over 200 years through his wiles and self-imposed restrictions.

Genbu’s oaths are centered around obsessive acts of care or caution that can slow a person down, but keep them safer in the long run. Examples of such oaths would be ‘I will always thoroughly search my room before going to bed’, ‘I will never eat food I have not seen prepared with my own eyes’, and ‘I will always be the last person to leave a room’.

Aosaghinohi the Reborn

Aosaghinohi possesses a long, slender neck like that of a crane, as well as brown molted scales that feel much like a goose’s downy feathers. Aosaghiohi stands no taller than a horse, but her enormous neck and head can reach up to twenty feet high. This is necessary since her favorite food is the newborn leaves from the very tops of old trees. Unlike other kirin Aosaghinohi boasts the incredible ability to grow back her head should it be severed from her long neck, like a plant regrowing its branches. Unfortunately this also completely wipes her memory, making her an incredibly fickle and temperamental soul.

Aosaghinohi prefers oaths which strengthen that which is lacking in an individual. A strong but poorly educated person’s oath might be ‘I will read one book a week.’ A frail know-it-all might have take the oath ‘I will run 5 miles a day.’

Basan the Flame

The body of Basan is wrapped in a multitude of shimmering red and yellow furs which give the striking impression of being on fire. His head is smaller than most and ends with a beak rather than a jaw. A blood red crest across his head gives the impression of a rooster, and even his voice seems to cry out like that of a shrieking chicken. Basan is the only meat eater of the kirin, not because he gets nutrition from it, but because he hates to waste the lives of others. Because of this Basan is also a great cook since he finds meat so incredibly foul tasting. In the family of kirin Basan is known for his audacity and belief that nothing is fated or set in stone. This makes him frustrating to talk to for many summoners who just want him to do what they tell him.

Basan’s oaths are all based on the satisfaction of a goal, and thus once completed are always fulfilled. Usually these oaths involve the hunting of an evil beast or performing some other task to the betterment of the world.

Onami the Star

Perhaps the most famed kirin, Onami’s lineage were once revered as sun gods for their magnificent jewel-like scales. While those of Onami’s family may sport many different colors, Onami herself is a resplendent gold color. True to her heritage Onami stands taller than most mortal humans at about seven feet high and boasts a powerful commanding voice. She is a natural leader and has been known to show herself to those with a mastery of commanding and managing large forces. In a similar fashion Onami doesn’t recognize those without great deeds to their name.

Onami takes her oaths very seriously, and thus swearing to her always involves some significant sacrifice or cost to the summoner. Most often this takes the form of prohibitions in battle, such as ‘I will never strike first’, ‘I will never kill a surrendering opponent’, or ‘I will never take pleasure in the suffering of any living thing’.

King Kirin the Dragon

King Kirin is Onami’s direct father, though he only stands a little taller at 8 feet. His scales share the same luster but are always in a state of flux, changing colors and patterns on his own whim. King Kirin claims the mantle of King of the Kirin which might be technically true as the family did have a patriarch long in the past. His features are more dragon-like than most kirin and he possesses a mighty set of visible fangs, though he doesn’t get to use them much when eating his favorite food (cabbage). Among the history of the kirin King is the only one to have large, leathery wings, which despite their appearance cannot let him do more than dramatically flap and cause a small breeze. Despite his bluster, King Kirin is deeply insecure and frets constantly over the fate of the kirin family. Among his brethren he is the least committed to the kirin mentality, and is easy to incite to violence if he believes such a thing would be the best for kirin-kind.

King Kirin prefers tangible, actionable oaths to intangible ones, which typically takes the form of affirmative promises. Examples of these would be ‘I will put my own body before those of the innocent’, ‘I will strike down all evil I observe’, and ‘I will assist any soul who sincerely needs help.’

Nazamu the Catfish

An ancient creature of immense size and gravitas, Nazamu has spent almost the entirety of her 250 years of existence sleeping in a trench at the bottom of the ocean. Nazamu is enormous in scale, reaching the size of a humpback whale when full extended. Her form is more aquatic than most kirin, with long koi-like whiskers adorning her face and fish like fins and scales running along the length of her body. Nazamu typically awakens during large natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquake, or typhoons, which has given her an unfair reputation as being the causes of those incidents. She is wry, but distant personality, who enjoys seeing what antics humans get themselves into. Unlike most kirin she is not bothered by evil on the small scale. Nazamu can only be motivated to act in the presence of an evil which threatens the lives of thousands.

Nazamu, being long lived herself, favors oaths with long-reaching consequences. Examples of these are ‘I will raise many orphans’, ‘I swear fealty to the Kami’, or ‘I will rule my country fairly’.

Summoning Rules
Summoning a kirin requires no chakra and works from a system of oaths rather than strict payments or loyalties. When one wishes to form a contract with a kirin they must set up a ritual to summon the beast, and then engage it in a dialogue. Each Kirin assesses the worthiness of the individual, and if they are found suitable, a binding, lifetime oath is sworn. This oath varies from kirin to kirin and from individual to individual, but usually requires some commitment or sacrifice. Some simple oaths would be statements like ‘I will never consume animal flesh’ or ‘I will only attack in self-defense’, while more difficult oaths might be something like ‘I will never intentionally kill another intelligent being’ or ‘I will never tell a lie.’. If the oath is knowingly and willfully broken by the contract holder, the Kirin will not come forth until a new ritual and oath is sworn. Otherwise they can be called without a scroll simply by reciting their name.

Any character unable to consume 'chakra' or some manner of equivalent are unable to achieve Sage Mode or take Sage Mode swaps. They may still progress up the Path of the Kirin.

Family Techniques: Although unaffiliated with ninja, the kirin have developed their own equivalent stealth techniques to hide away from the prying reaches of humanity. In addition basic ninjutsu skills kirin are capable of defending themselves through the ancient art of Isshiki Ikioi Hanpatsu (Reflect All Force) and Hi-chimeiteki Arashi (Nonlethal Storm). If they must, kirin use their antlers or scales as a weapons. Their scales can even be detached as needed, and kirin who particularly like an individual might give them a scale as a present (or as a shield).

Path of the Kirin

Steps of the Path can only be earned through performing good deeds, though not necessarily for the Brigade of Light. Evil acts will incur the subtraction of steps, up to and including all of them if the act is bad enough.1 –You discover a hidden glade of a kirin and catch a glimpse of it before it flees.
2 – While traveling you come upon a pair of antlers, but following your gut you leave them untouched.
3 – You are visited by Satori in disguise, and engage him in light discussion. You are given a piece of jewelry with a precious gem inside, corresponding to your birthstone.
4 – Satori grants you the opportunity to take his contract. If you already had it, the first kirin you summon each thread does not count against your usages.
5 – You find a hiding Genbu by mistake! He offers you the opportunity to take his contract. If you already had it, you may conceal yourself in a big shadow for a single post.
6 – You come upon Aosaghinohi while she is bathing. She offers you her contract. If you already had it, your summons may sustain one extra wound per thread before disappearing.
7 – Satori modifies your gem to vibrate whenever you are within 50 feet of something hostile.
8 – Genbu teaches you to walk across vegetation without breaking or disturbing it.
9 – You come upon Basan while he is in the middle of a meal. He offers you a plate, and his contract. If you already had it, once per thread you may regain all your stamina by eating a freshly cooked meal.
10 – After proving yourself in a spar, Basan teachers you Kirin Sage Mode.
11 – Onami wakes you up one morning and offers you her contract. If you already had it, your gemstone is modified so those who wear it may communicate telepathically with your summons.
12 – King Kirin visits you and is angry because he thinks you are courting his daughter. After clearing up the misunderstanding, he offers a you an apology and his contract. If you already had it then once per thread you may summon multiple kirin simultaneously, as long as their combined stages do not exceed 7.
13 – King Kirin visits and insists you marry Onami. After refusing, he instead modifies your gemstone so that kirin you summon are mentally linked, allowing that kirin to use taijutsu styles you know (assuming they meet the requirements).
14 – Nazamu visits you in a dream. She offers her contract. If you already had it, once per thread your gemstone can foretell the coming of a disaster.
15 – Your devotion to kirin-kind does not go unnoticed, and Nazamu exerts her influence to allow you to break 1 oath per thread without losing access to your summons.

Kirin Sage Mode

As kirin themselves are widely varied in physical appearance, so does a kirin Sage. However a few traits are common between Sages. All Sages grow a six inch pair of forked antlers from their forehead, which can be sharp or blunt. The hair grows longer and surrounds the neck and shoulders like a lion’s mane. The Sage always seems to move around on their tiptoes, but doesn’t lose any speed or precision while doing so. Markings can develop on the face of various colors and patterns, but usually in a way that invokes the imagery of kirin scales. Finally the mouth of the Sage may grow wider and the shape of their skull shifted slightly, giving just the barest impression of a dragon.

Kuchiyose no Kirin

A Stamina
B Strength
C Speed
D Willpower
E Tactics
F Intelligence

Stage One – SatoriRequirements: Stamina 3, Intelligence 2

Of all the kirin virtues, Satori has chosen understanding to be his life’s work. As a kirin he looks somewhat like an ape, with a rounder head and human-like eyes and thick tail as opposed to the more dragon-like features of his kin. His scales are an earthy brown color. Satori much prefers dialog and discussion to fighting, and is well-learned and well-traveled. He has a general knowledge of the history of humankind from the last 40 years and is always eager to share it.

More often than not he is found using the shinobi art of henge to transform himself into a human shape. He does not have a preferred image and freely changes between male and female forms as suits his whim. He will often choose to change himself into a human similar in features to his summoner in order to pose as a brother or sister, but is open to suggestions.

Stage Two - GenbuRequirements: Stamina 6, Strength 6, Willpower 4
Long ago Genbu chose pacifism as his kirin virtue. His interpretation of that has lead him to become incredibly cowardly and conflict avoidant. While his personal lifestyle may be questionable by many, it has served him well in his many decades of life. Genbu stands no taller than a dog and is covered in stealthy, nonreflective black scales. His face is wrinkly and scaled like a reptile’s, and his black eyes seem to bulge out of his head. He has a proclivity to resting in shadowy places. He moves quietly and talks so softly you have to be right next to him to hear it.

As a rule Genbu never strikes first and this is something he will adamantly insist on. As a follow-up he really doesn’t have any problem with killing dangerous enemies either. He just doesn’t want to be the one to do it. His expertise lies in avoiding combat and he can be counted on to find the way out of a sticky situation, or at the very least minimize the damage.

Sage Special Technique The Turtle Trot
Requirements: Stamina 7, Strength 7, Willpower 6
Natural selection put heavy pressures on the kirin to find ways to avoid hunters, and Genbu’s personal favorite he called the Trot. The fact is that it's hard to avoid damaging your surroundings, even when being as careful as a kirin. By consuming one Sage jutsu, all damage caused in that post by the user to the environment/to nonliving things is regenerated by the end of the post. This is always active for Genbu at no cost, and is his primary method of escape. Performing this technique makes one look like they are very conspicuously tiptoeing around, though.

Open Slot: Willpower 7, Tactics 7, Strength 6

Stage Three - AosaghinohiRequirements:Stamina 9, Strength 9, Willpower 7
Of the kirin virtues, Aosaghinohi made sacrifice her own, though perhaps not by choice. The long-necked Aosaghinohi only stands as tall as an adult deer. Her head rests a good twenty feet above her body, though! Her preferred stance is to lie in the grass and let her head do the moving. Fluffy brown down-like feathers cover her body and her yellow eyes are small and beady, like a sparrow’s. Slender her form might be she’s got a rather bitter and temperamental attitude, owing in part to her lousy memory and tendency to get beheaded whenever she sticks her neck out for someone.

In the cases where her neck is cleanly severed from the body, she can completely regenerate her head. Also it takes like a week to grow a new one and she’s always in a terrible mood after, so it’s best to not rely on this or ask her to do it without a very good reason.

Sage Special Technique
The Saint’s Sacrifice
Requirements: Stamina 10, Strength 10, Intelligence 8
Forgive, but don't forget! Aosaghinohi's power allows for the regeneration of a non-fatal wound on another person at the expense of a Sage chakra usage. Aosaghinohi can only use this technique once per thread, and sustains a similar wound on her body as a price for the technique. The Saint's Sacrifice cannot be used on one's self, however, and can only be applied to others.

Open Slot: Willpower 10, Tactics 10, Speed 8

Stage Four - BasanRequirements: Stamina 14, Strength 13, Speed 11, Tactics 10
It took several tries before Basan could finally settle on ’courage’ as his chosen virtue. ‘Honor’ didn’t quite work out- he’s notorious for fighting dirty. Likewise ‘resolve’ ended up falling flat as Basan can be flighty and prone to changing his mind. ‘Flashy’ isn’t a virtue but he definitely qualifies. His scales are a mix of brilliantly shining reds, oranges, and yellows, and tufts of fur and feathers along his body give an amazing impression of flame. Unlike all other kirin Basan has a large beak instead of a mouth, and a rooster like waddle and crest atop his head.

His veins quite literally pump with hot blood and Basan jumps into fights faster than most other kirin. His body he has trained to be shield for others. Though he hates the taste of meat, he is the only one of the kirin who can consume it. Those he truly trusts he shares his secret recipes with, and it is not unheard of for summoners to call Basan’s name simply to share a meal with the kirin.

Sage Special Techniques
The Fire Rises
Requirements: Stamina 15, Strength 15, Speed 13, Willpower 14
Get hype! Basan’s attitude and demeanor extends to an aura around him, boosting morale and regenerating energy to all allies nearby. Passively reduces the severity of pain and improves Stamina by 3 levels of all those friendly to the user within a 25 foot radius. This aura is always active for Basan. If used by a Sage, the activation consumes 1 Sage chakra usage, but can be maintained indefinitely so long as Sage Mode is active.

Onami swore her life to the virtue of ‘loyalty’. Unfortunately for many of her would-be summoners, ‘loyal’ doesn’t mean ‘nice’. As a member of the kirin Royal line she expects a certain amount of decorum and protocol be followed. If she doesn’t like what she sees, Onami won’t hesitate to order others –including the person who summoned her- around.

She stands a bit taller than most kirin, about 7 feet high from head to toe. Her scales shine like gold and evoke a sense of wealth and grandeur. Likewise she tends to speak like royalty with lots of big declarations and commands. Despite her attitude Onami is considered one of the most reliable kirin when it comes to getting things done. Just don’t expect her to be very friendly about it.

Sage Special Technique
Supernovae
Requirements: Stamina 19, Strength 19, Speed 18, Willpower 16
Normal kirin can’t roar, but Onami is no ordinary kirin. After glowing gold for a few seconds she rears back and unleashes a show-stopping bellow that seems to shatter the air itself. With this cry Onami regenerates all broken weapons in a 50 foot radius. The broken weapons glow red with forge-like heat, and grants them wicked sharpness for one post, allowing them to cut through tougher materials they couldn't normally. Onami's antlers (and the user's, if they have any) will also glow and possess supernatural sharpness for the post this technique is used, however her horns break after the first attack used this way.

Open Slot: Willpower 19, Tactics 19, Intelligence 18, Stamina 16

Stage Six - King KirinRequirements: Stamina 23, Strength 23, Speed 22, Tactics 16, Intelligence 15
King Kirin’s actual name isn’t King, but it’s been so long since anyone called him by anything else that nobody can remember what his given name is. Most are surprised to learn someone as obsessed with nobility as King takes on the virtue of ‘humility’. His marvelous multicolor scales certainly don’t seem very humble. Nor do his mighty, many pronged antlers, or his massive ravenous dragon’s jaw. Even the completely useless leather wings King sports on his back give off an aura of ‘look at me, I’m so special!’.

But, when all the brouhaha and bluster are put aside, King is incredibly selfless and is always seeking ways to put himself before others. The fate of the kirin family weighs heavy on his shoulders and King won’t hesitate to lower himself to whatever level is needed to ensure the survival of his kin. This even extends to the Brigade of Light, who King sees as kirin surrogates. King will not go quietly into that good night.

Non-Lethal StormStage FourStat Requirements: Speed 19, Stamina 14, Strength 10, Intelligence 14Stage Bonus: +5 Stamina +4 SpeedSpecial Techniques
-Death of a Thousand CutsSage Special Technique
Oathbreaker
Requirements: Stamina 26, Strength 25, Speed 24, Willpower 19, Tactics 17
King Kirin was one of the original elders that forged the Kirin contracts, and today he is the last left alive. The (alleged) royal blood in his veins grants him the ability to draft and bind oaths of all sorts. While this technique is most frequently used for kirin betrothals, in combat it can be used to regenerate chakra by forcibly unbinding it from jutsus. Through a simple, musical whistle, King unbinds the commands from any independently operating chakra construct or summon. This dismisses any Stage Five bunshin/artificial life jutsu or lower outright, and sends lower summons back to whence they came. The original user of the jutsu is replenished their usages when their jutsu is canceled this way. In addition this technique can be used once per thread to completely nullify a Stage Five or lower genjutsu from a single target, returning the chakra back to the original user of the jutsu in the process.

Stage Seven - NazamuRequirements: Stamina 32, Strength 30, Speed 28, Willpower 24, Tactics 22
The easy going and placid Nazamu could easily be mistaken for a fish were she not as big as a house. Her mouth is adorned with catfish-like whiskers and a large pair of gill slits can be seen on her neck. Two round fish-eyes sit on her face and her blue scales are dotted with fins. Even her hooved feet are webbed! Nazamu’s long life has been devoted to the virtue of ‘patience’. This is plain as day from her attitude: she simply cannot get worked up over the incredibly small worries of the short-lived. Human and kirin alike will find themselves ignored if their requests are too shallow, too mundane, or too ineffectual.

But! When a worthy task presents itself Nazamu will be the first to spring into action. She still longs for a cause worth dying for, and entertains the Brigade of Light’s whims only because she foresees such an event occurring within her lifetime. The big oaf spends most her time sleeping in bodies of water, though, and contacting her often means having to shake her out of some pleasant dream she’s having.

Sage Special Technique
Windfish’s Dream
Requirements: Stamina 35, Strength 33, Speed 31, Willpower 26, Intelligence 18
Deep in her slumber, Nazamu finds it difficult to get up the energy to show up for small-time problems. Passively this technique allows her to use ninjutsu while sleeping, which isn’t of tremendous use to most others. However, as an avid lover of dreams, Nazamu has learned to recreate her fantasies at a whim. People, places, and things that have been destroyed in the thread may be regenerated within a 100 foot radius of the user. And like a dream, these reformed memories are under full control of the user. However, once Nazamu is awakened or Sage Mode is finished, these regenerated beings return to dust.

You a visited by Satori in disguise, and engage him in light discussion

Typo

Quote:

King Kirin visits you and is angry because he thinks you are courting his daughter.

This amuses me because it implies this happens quite often.

Quote:

The Turtle Trot
Requirements: Stamina 7, Strength 7, Willpower 6
Natural selection put heavy pressures on the kirin to find ways to avoid hunters, and Genbu’s personal favorite he called the Trot. Even in the heat of battle, if one pays special attention to how they move their feet and body, they can avoid causing any noises or disturbances at all. This this technique passively mutes all noise coming from or caused by the user. This passive only applies in Sage Mode for humans, but applies all the time for Genbu. Performing this technique makes one look like they are very conspicuously tiptoeing around, though.

Does this just last a post, or does it have an upkeep cost?

I like it, though I find the sage jutsu a little flat. They don't have a real unifying theme, and are treated as just a random swap list more than the rewards for having sage mode. The higher level ones are actually good, but they may be good enough to want some unique mechanics using the sage mode chakra. Like usual, I refer people to the Grass list for some ideas of what that looks like.

It is also worth asking, since we had the conversation in Discord. Does Non-shinobi here mean all three of the non-shinobi types, or the Non-powered in particular?

Any character unable to consume 'chakra' or some manner of equivalent are unable to achieve Sage Mode or take Sage Mode swaps. They may still progress up the Path of the Kirin.

I think this removes any ambiguity from who can use sage mode. Mundane, normal non-shinobi with no usages of anything cannot take sage mode. Miko have their miko usages, and Samurai can learn miko techs/have chi usages, so they are both capable of becoming Sages in those situations. Hopefully that also future-proofs the list in case other, weirder character types crop up later.

I've rewritten most of the sage swaps to try and fit around a theme of 'regeneration', to fit with the kirin's pacifist 'do no harm' sort of existence. Unfortunately those cool later-stage techs had to be changed to fit what I hope is a more cohesive theme. It still might be super sketchy though so I can tweak stuff as necessary.

Sage Special Technique
The Saint’s Sacrifice
Requirements: Stamina 10, Strength 10, Intelligence 8
Forgive, but don't forget! Aosaghinohi's power allows for the regeneration of a non-fatal wound to another person at the expense of a Sage chakra usage. Aosaghinohi can only use this technique once per thread, and sustains a similar wound on her body as a price for the technique. The Saint's Sacrifice cannot be used on one's self, however, and can only be applied to others.

The wording makes it sound like 'a wound you cause to another person' when you say a non-fatal wound to another person. If that isn't what you meant, then I would go with 'a non-fatal wound on another person.' or 'the non-fatal wound of another person'.

Quote:

Supernovae
Requirements: Stamina 19, Strength 19, Speed 18, Willpower 16
Normal kirin can’t roar, but Onami is no ordinary kirin. After glowing gold for a few seconds she rears back and unleashes a show-stopping bellow that seems to shatter the air itself. With this cry Onami regenerates all broken weapons in a 50 foot radius. The broken weapons glow red with forge-like heat, and grants them the 'cut-all' ability for one post. Onami's antlers (and the user's, if they have any) will also glow and possess the cut-all ability for the post this technique is used, however her horns break after the first attack used this way.

Instead of saying cut-all ability, just describe them as having an uncanny sharpness that allows them to easily slice through most materials, etc etc. For the most part, 'cut-all' has been nixed as an item quality because it just leads to arguments of what can't cut-all cut. Which while funny as a 1930s 'who's on first' type bit, ain't as fun to moderate.

You're right that the feel of the high level techniques changed, but I like them. I'm a sucker for staying on theme.